Did you know that there are about 1.446 billion different types of cars in the world? Obviously, each car has body parts that weigh differently. If you are wondering which parts of your car weigh the heaviest and the lightest, we have got you covered.
Maybe you are looking for how to reduce weight in your car. Keep reading to find out more about the weight of these parts, from the heaviest to the lightest.
The Heaviest Parts of A Car
First, let us look at the heaviest parts of a car. An average car weighs about 1200 to 1800 kilograms; let us break it down into parts;
1. Body
The body is the main structure of a car, and it is generally made out of steel or aluminum. While the body only weighs around 4094 pounds on average in 2021, this is still one of the heaviest parts due to its size, structure, and material it is made of.
2. Chassis
The chassis is the main body of a car, containing all other parts that are not directly related to power or steering. It typically weighs 330lbs for a 90 chassis and 375lbs for 110 chassis.
While high-performance cars often weigh closer to 200 – 300 pounds to support their high horsepower engines. The chassis is where everything rides; therefore, it varies in size, shape, and type depending on the type of the car.
3. Engine
A car’s engine block regularly weighs 350 pounds or 158 kilograms for a smaller car and 600 pounds for bigger cars such as SUVs. However, a car engine can weigh up to 1000 pounds which is the same as 432 kilograms.
The engine block is generally made out of iron or aluminum. These materials make almost 15% of the total weight of a car.
4. Transmission
Depending on the make and model, a car’s transmission weighs from 100 to 400 pounds (the same as 45 to 181 kilograms).
There are currently two main types; manual and automatic. Manual transmissions weigh around 30 pounds less than their automatic counterparts because they require fewer parts.
The weight of your transmission will increase if you decide to get a bigger car like a minivan. Therefore, it is safe to say that the weight of transmission depends on your type of car.
6. Sunroof
Sunroofs are pretty heavy, and they can have a significant effect on your fuel mileage. An average sedan’s sunroof weighs between 50 to 80 pounds.
For insanely bigger cars, the weight can be from 120 to 200 pounds. These are found in cars like SUVs. Some cars have extra features like a rearview mirror attached to their sun visors, adding another 5-10 pounds of weight.
6. Air Conditioning System
Car air conditioning systems can weigh between 60 to 180lbs; this is equivalent to 27 to 82 kilograms. The weight is directly proportional to its power. Therefore, if your car’s AC system is quite powerful, it also has to be pretty heavy.
However, the window AC models are considered the lightest and the whole-house unit the heaviest. The weight of an Ac system includes all parts such as compressor, accumulator, and others.
The Lightest parts of a Car
7. Battery
A car’s battery takes up around 10-15% of its total weight, with the average car having a battery that weighs between 30 to 50lbs. the weight of a car battery is usually on the content inside and not the body.
Car batteries can be lead acid or lithium-ion, with lithium-ion batteries weighing about half as much as lead-acid batteries. Once the fluid inside the battery is used up, its weight can go from 40 pounds to 15 pounds.
- The standard batteries weigh between 40 to 60 pounds, and their size usually depends on the model of your car and the amount of charge it needs.
- The lightweight batteries weigh between 10 to 20 pounds, and they are the perfect choice for small cars.
- The empty batteries weigh from 7 to 15 pounds. As the name suggests, these batteries are empty; the lead-acid or lithium-ion in them must have been used up.
Now, the opposite will be true for fully electric cars. For these vehicles, the battery will likely be the heaviest part of the car. On average, EV batteries weigh roughly 1,000 pounds or 450 kg.
8. Wheels & Tires
The average tire of a car usually weighs about 20 to 30 pounds depending on the size and around 30 to 40 pounds for the rim, depending on make, model, style, and material. In total, we can say that a car tire weighs 50 to 60 lbs. on the other hand, a car wheel weighs 20 to 24 pounds. The steel rims seem to take up much weight, weighing up to 20% more than the alloy rims.
Cars are an essential part of our everyday lives. It is best to know what the parts of your car weigh to manage them properly. Remember, different cars’ parts weigh differently; it all depends on the model. What we have provided are just averages and approximates. We hope it gives you the guidance you need.
